Biking the Normandy Landings

This is the land where William the Conqueror set sail in 1066 and where the Allies landed in 1944.

Biking in Normandy and visiting the D-Day landmarks and memorial is simply amazing.  The ride from Bayeux where Niki, Dillion and I rented our bikes is only about 8 miles (although it took us 45 minutes to get there since we took the circuitous route).  There were many storybook villages and the luscious of green pastures on the way, so we thoroughly enjoyed being lost.

William the Conqueror depicted in the famous Bayeux tapestry

But once along the stunning seacoast, the views were wind-swept, magnificent and momentous.  We parked our bikes and took a scenic journey along the beach for a few miles.  Running, swimming, enjoying the weather and reminiscing the past.  

We had lunch in a small town called Courseulles-Sur-Mer, a popular tourist destination for foreigners and locals alike.  There were many elaborate summer homes along the beachside owned by affluent Parisians.  We ate a modest meal, our minds were wheeling, our appetites had waned -- the cheese was delicious and the cider fresh and wholesome.  Actually, we were dying to taste some of the muscles and oysters that were farmed from the seabed -- but unfortunately, it was peak tourist season.  Then daredevil Dillion led us along a very rugged bike ride along the coast almost all the way to Omaha.  There were breathtaking views where we could better see and imagine how the Allies made their courageous offensive.  From our vantage point, there was lots of history to reflect, remember and embrace.